Aussies retains Bequia T/20 Cricket title

Knights Trading Aussies retained the Hairoun Beer Twenty/20 competition in the Bequia Twenty/20 cricket competition, with a comfortable 84 run win over Admiralty Transport Youth Combine{{more}} last Sunday afternoon at the Clive Tannis Playing Field.

The large crowd which turned out was treated to some exhilarating Cricket, especially from the Aussies.

Led by a stroke filled 88 from Shem Browne, who belted seven sixes and eight fours, Dean Browne struck 79, laced with five sixes and nine fours, and Razine Browne’s 31, dotted with three sixes and three fours. Aussies compiled 245 for 5 from their 20 overs.

Shem and Dean shared a second wicket partnership of 162, before Shem got out to a stupendous catch by Garvin Ollivierre on the deep mid wicket boundary.

Former St. Vincent and the Grenadines under-19 leg spinner Jenry Ollivierre, who has turned to medium pace, was the most successful bowler for Youth Combine, with 3 for 35.

The Aussies batsmen were severe on the Youth Combine bowlers, especially Dominic Stowe, whose three overs cost 63 runs. In total, Aussies struck 23 fours and 16 sixes.

In reply, Youth Combine was dismissed for 161 in 18 overs. Hyron Shallow at the top of the order was the topscorer with 47.

After Shallow’s dismissal, the Youth Combine innings never continued its momentum.

Chelston Stowe struck 39 and Jenry Ollivierre hit 33, to save face, as Aussies was too hot to handle on the day.

Othniel Baptiste took 3 for 32, and Dean Browne followed up his batting with 3 for 34, and was fittingly named Man of the Final.

It was the Aussies fourth consecutive trip to the final and their third lien on the title.

In 2008, the Aussies shared the title with Youth Combine after the finals finished in a tie, with Youth Combine taking the 2009 competition.

The Bequia Cricket Competition has risen steadily in popularity and entertainment value over the years.

However, some of the spectators are calling for more attention to be paid to the safety of the pavilion at the Clive Tannis Playing Field.

One vocal supporter of the Aussies team, Catherine Miller, told SEARCHLIGHT that the gaping holes in the roof of the pavilion are a disaster waiting to happen.

She said that several government authorities have made promises to rectify the situation, but to date, nothing has been done.

Miller also complained about the other amenities at the facility, including the state of the wash rooms.

All was well for Miller, as her team triumphed in the end.

Following last Sunday’s final, a Bequia XI will be selected to journey to neighbouring island Mustique on August 21, to play a friendly encounter against a Mustique Select XI.